[Spread of Leishmania major to the north of Algeria]. / Extension de Leishmania major au nord de l'Algérie.

Since a long time, Leishmania major and L. infantum foci in Algeria were geographically separated by the mountains of the Tell Atlas which represent a natural barrier. Recently, a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has emerged in the village of El M'hir, located on the north side of the chain of the Tell Atlas, in the basin of the Soummam. During the period 2004-2010, 152 CL cases have been registered and 12 isolates were obtained from patients who declared never having been outside the village the last years. The identification of the parasites showed that all strains belonged to L major MON-25. Investigations on the reservoir hosts showed the presence of the sand rat (Psammomys obesus), for the first time, in this locality. Five strains isolated from this rodent belonged to L. major MON-25. The sand rat, which is usually observed around the chotts in the Saharan and steppe areas, acts as the main reservoir of L. major in Algeria. Its presence in the new focus of El M'hir is reported for the first time. Entomological surveys carried out in 2009 showed the predominance of two sandfly species: Phlebotomus papatasi and P. perniciosus. The first one is known as a vector of L major in the Algerian Sahara. This study highlights the spread of L. major from the arid zones towards the semi arid areas, particularly in the Soummam valley. Climate changes and desertification observed in the steppe area northern Sahara could play a role in the extension of the disease.

Phlebotomus sergenti (Parrot, 1917) identified as Leishmania killicki host in Ghardaïa, south Algeria.

Since 2005, an outbreak of human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ghardaïa, south Algeria, was studied and one output of these investigations was the identification of two Leishmania species, Leishmania major and Leishmania killicki, as the CL causative agents. In the present study, we were curious to focus on sand fly fauna present in this area and detection of Leishmania-positive sand fly females. Sand flies (3717) were collected during two seasons using sticky papers and CDC light traps in urban, rural and sylvatic sites. Twelve Phlebotomus species were identified. Phlebotomus papatasi was dominant in the urban site while Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus riouxi/chabaudi were dominant in the sylvatic site. Out of 74 P. sergenti females captured by CDC light traps in the sylvatic site populated by Ghardaïas' Gundi (Massoutiera mzabi), three ones were hosting Leishmania promastigotes. PCR-RFLP and sequencing of seven single-copy coding DNA sequences identified the promastigotes as L. killicki. Furthermore, laboratory experiments revealed that L. killicki isolate sampled from a CL patient inhabiting the studied region develop well in P. sergenti females. Our findings strongly suggest that the human cutaneous leishmaniases caused by L. killicki is a zoonotic disease with P. sergenti sand flies acting as hosts and vectors and gundi rodents as reservoirs.

Evaluation of a gold-silver staining method for detection and identification of Candida species by light microscopy.

A gold-silver staining procedure was evaluated for detection of Candida species of medical importance. Probes were prepared by coupling lectins or antibodies (polyclonal and monoclonal) directly or indirectly to colloidal gold particles. Structures reacting to these probes were specifically revealed by light microscopy in cells present in infected kidney tissue sections or in isolated yeast cells on glass slides. Definition, contrast and sensitivity were of a high order. Preliminary data showed that it was possible, using discriminating dilutions, to identify cells from different species of the genus Candida, grown in vitro, according to their ability to stain with polyclonal monospecific antisera. The advantages of gold-silver staining compared with other staining procedures currently used in routine mycological laboratories are its sensitivity, good definition, ease and rapidity, and long conservation of reaction. It is suggested that the procedure has applications for research and identification of yeasts in clinical samples.